Movie Review: Peter Hujar’s Day
Screened at Stockholm International Film Festival 2025
One-liner: This alienating, slow-moving and well-acted time capsule biopic drama remains curious, moody and nostalgic.
Peter Hujar’s Day is essentially an adaptation of an interview that recently surfaced after being long buried. This conversation serves as the basis for a two-hander dialogue that takes place over the course of a day in various scenarios, from an apartment to the city streets. Writer-director Ira Sachs has created an authentic, moody and atmospheric recreation of this encounter – effectively a day-in-the-life biopic and time capsule.
While the settings have been reimagined, a great deal of effort went into capturing the essence of the time. While the original interview may have been static, this revitalised version realises it has a duty to entertain, aiming to be visually striking and historically accurate. Nowadays, with the rising popularity of podcasts, the concept of an interview film may not seem as foreign.
My Dinner with Andre and The End of the Tour are examples of dialogue-heavy exchanges that have transitioned to film effectively, proving there is an avenue for this kind of filmmaking. This production was likely inspired by the proliferation of podcasts as well as the current appetite for retro aesthetics. In an age where everything is digitally available, the concept makes sense. However, while the timing checks a number of boxes, one drawback is that the material feels dated in terms of relevance, with a strong focus on the photographer Peter Hujar, his immediate sphere of influence, and the pop culture of the era.
While this intricate reconstruction offers a strong dose of nostalgia for anyone who lived through the age, it will make a much stronger impression on those familiar with the life and times, as the interviewee references specific personalities from that period. Having a working knowledge of Allen Ginsberg, Peter Hujar and both of their contributions is a good idea going in. Although Hujar does most of the talking, his answers conjure up various scenarios, making for an interesting retrospective.
“It’s hard to get by just upon a smile…”
Starring Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall, Peter Hujar’s Day is guided by a respected duo who bring their all to this small, intimate production. Ben Whishaw shares a likeness with Hujar but is also an adept actor with a great voice for the screen, making it easy to sink into this fly-on-the-wall setting and listen to Hujar’s tales. His interviewer is played by Rebecca Hall, who is largely a listener in this role – somewhat underutilised for an actor used to taking on much more challenging performances.
As good as their embodiments of these characters are, and as curious as the details of the interview may be, it is still a struggle and an alienating experience when you feel like you are on the outside looking in. While listening to a podcast works within the realm of audio, watching a film is a different experience requiring a combination of action dialogue, and visuals. Unfortunately for Peter Hujar’s Day, not much happens in terms of plot.
The performances are restrained and talky. While the mise-en-scène is accurate, the attempts to keep it visually enticing are limited by the locations and held back by the constant dialogue. It is difficult to remain invested when you don’t feel connected to the age, and when the interviewee is somewhat aloof and self-absorbed. The interviewer seems reticent to interrupt, while the dynamic steers toward an increasing closeness that feels like a dramatic device rather than a natural progression.
Ultimately, while a noble effort, the foundational elements of adapting an interview – and the limitations associated with it – hold this drama back. It’s a fascinating exercise to have a long-buried interview revived and reinterpreted for the screen, but the niche subject matter, sluggishness, and inert nature of the storytelling make for a rather alienating and superficial film experience. Coming in at 76 minutes certainly helps the pacing, yet it still manages to feel a little long.
Lacking anything to truly raise the stakes, this passive, moody, and suave film becomes a chore if you are unable to resonate with the subject. However, those who appreciate slower-paced art-house cinema, rich dialogue and all things retro may find more to connect with here. As it stands, Peter Hujar’s Day makes for a curious character study, but it is a bit too niche, self-involved and slow-moving for this critic.
The bottom line: Inert
